Police and Security Control Techniques

For the past 15 years, I have been working as a Police officer in South Australia and for several years worked in the Licensing Branch dealing regularly with security personnel and crowd controllers (political speak for bouncers). I well understand the restrictions modern policies and politicians place on those at the coalfront who are dealing with people who don't operate under the same restrictions and who, if they do have to face a court, are dealt with a lot less severely than those who are trying to do a difficult job with little support.

I realise that many of the people in these crowd control sectors of society participate in various forms of combative arts, but it is my perception that if these be punching or kicking arts rather than grappling arts, then one leaves oneself open to accusations.

In this series, I hope to add to the repertoire of those charged with protecting society whilst lessening the overt damage caused. Whilst I also practise the rather overt strikes and kicks of Xingyi chuan, Bagua zhang and Taijichuan, I have found that the locks and control holds of Aikido (or jujutsu/judo) or Taiji (Shaolin chuan) are much more effective and draw less attention than the kicks or punches. Added to this, the basis of all the techniques I have used over the years is that the first principle is to avoid an attack (particularly useful if the attacker is armed), before going to work. I have often found that witnesses (Police or civilian) come up to me after an altercation to ask what I did (either too quick or too subtle).

So I offer certain principles for saving your body and some simple techniques for removing or restraining recalcitrants - remember the KISS principle. The best fighters, whether in competition or the street, limit themselves to two or three major techniques - the rest are either for show or bluff!

As you can see from the Home Page, I have done my time in all the arts I offer, both here and in their countries of origin and I know what you are facing on the streets and in the clubs and pubs.